How to replace door hinges

kpoindex08

Registered User
Ok this was the fastest I have ever done hinge pins. So I figured this may help someone.
Tools needed=
*Vice
*Air compressor
*Good air chisel with very sharp straight chisel
*Center punch
*Hammer
*1/2 in or 13mm offset boxed end wrench (ratcheting preferred)
*31/64 in drill bit (high speed steal is cheap and will work fine)
*Drill with a 1/2in chuck
*Floor jack (put padding on jack lift point to insure you do not damage the door)
*Jack stand
*A helper! (Almost a must)
*Shims (if needed)
*A heavy chair

Parts=
*2 doreman help part #38438
*Padding
*Red lock tight
*Emery cloth
*Cutting oil
*Brake cleaner
*Electrical tape

Process=

First start by putting your padding on your jack and jack stand. Once applied open your door to its most open location and roll down the window. After that, slide your jack under the door at the lower right corner (while looking at the driver side exterior of the car) have your helper watch the door pins while you jack up on the door (if you did not acquire a helper watch very carefully yourself) until all pressure is off the hinges, slide the jack stand under the opposite bottom corner of the door. Add shims if needed until the jack stand is slightly touching the bottom of the door. Then put the heavy chair against the arm rest part of the door. After everything is in order use your 1/2in or 13mm (13mm works best) and unbolt the hinge from the door. Be very careful of the last bolt. Hold on to the door as the last of the threads are removed. Once you have done that the only thing holding the door to the car is the wire harness. Slide the door as far as the wire harness will allow you to away from the door jamb then lean the door against the heavy chair securely(a friend to help is nice). This gives you the necessary work space to get the air chisel on top of the hinge pin. Apply firm pressure and keep the chisel parallel to the upper surface of the hinge. This allows a nice clean cut of the hinge pin. Before you get all the way through the hinge pin with the air chisel remove the chisel from the air gun and strike it firmly with a hammer. Be extra cautious not to shear it off and chisel the fender on the other side of the hinge. After the head of the pin is sheared off use the center punch to drive the pin out with the hammer (repeat process for lower hinge) after completion of driving the pins out you can now work on the hinges off the car. Clamp the hinge vice in the vice situated so that you can drill straight through both sides unobstructed. Punch out the old bushings with the center punch and hammer. Plug in your drill, put the bit in, and tighten your chuck. Be sure the chuck is very tight or it will slip and frustrate you. keep the bit in line with the old bushing holes apply small amount of cutting oil to the bit( a helper here would be nice also). Drill straight through both sides at the same time (repeat process for other hinge vice). Use the emery cloth to remove any burs on the hinge piece. After burs are removed clean hinge piece with brake cleaner (this allows the lock tight to adhere better). Place 2 or 3 drops of lock tight to the new bushings and insert them into the freshly drilled holes. Put the electrical tape around the hinge piece to hold the bushings in as you put them back on the door. Only put the top bolt in at this time! After the hinges are installed on the door in the exact same spot as before they were taken off. This is the factory hinge location (unless they were tampered with previously) so alignment should be no problem. Now this is where the helper would be greatly appreciated. Slide the door back towards the jamb. Remove the electrical tape (the lock tight should be semi-tacky by now). Put the hinge in its resting place and insert the center punch in the top hinge (this makes aligning the bottom pen much easier) have your helper help if you have one. Align the pin and tap it in with the hammer FROM THE BOTTOM. Insert the clip and insert the bottom hinge bottom bolt. Now move to the top hinge. Have your helper lift the door slightly to remove the pressure off the center punch and remove it. If you do not have a helper, use the floor jack. Align the top hinge and tap the pin in with the hammer. ALSO FROM THE BOTTOM. Insert the clip on the top of the pin and tighten the bottom bolt of the top hinge. Check door for alignment and make adjustments if necessary. Then have a nice cold Pepsi and admire your work
 
time

This took me 45 to 50 min I am sure it can be done in less though if it was shortened. the dorman product allows you to repair even more worn hinges due to the fact that the brass bushings are larger in diameter(.495 to be exact). For those folks that let it go just a little to long.
 
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